Cracking Down on Dissent In Iran: Two Kurdish Political Prisoners Allegedly Tortured to Death

19-07-2023

Perla Khaled

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence

Two Kurdish political prisoners died within a 24-hour period on July 9, 2023, after falling victim to severe torture while incarcerated. [1]

24-year-old Peyman Galwani from Mahabad succumbed to his wounds 14 days following his violent arbitrary detention. On July 5, Galwani was relocated from the Urmia Intelligence Agency's detention facility to Khomeini Hospital after slipping into a coma. [2] Galwani's family reportedly received word from the security forces that he had fallen from a height and was unconscious as a consequence.

Galwani was constantly monitored by two security personnel while in the hospital, hindering access to his family. His sister was allowed to see him once, during which she noticed extensive bruising on his face, head, and body. [3] Pictures were later disseminated on Tuesday, revealing the severity of his wounds. [4]

The Galwani family strongly believes that their son’s death was a result of torture inflicted by security forces during his incarceration, particularly noting that he was in good health at the time of his detention and had no pre-existing medical conditions. Galwani’s remains were sent to the mortuary without permission for viewing, despite pleas by his loved ones to examine his remains. [5]

The exact circumstances of Galwani’s unlawful arrest, potential charges, or any pending legal actions are still unknown. It is also noteworthy that Galwani was actively involved in the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, rendering it possible that his unjustified arrest was tied to his affiliations. [6]

The death of 35-year-old Mousa Esmaili, a political prisoner from Piranshahr, was also announced on Saturday, 62 days after his detention without an arrest warrant. Since his detention, Esmaili's family had been prohibited from communicating with him, and their efforts to get in touch with different security and legal entities had been unsuccessful. [7]

On July 8, Esmaili’s family was instructed to pick up their son’s body from the Iranian intelligence department's security facility, albeit they did not receive any further information. They were later notified of their son's passing upon their arrival. Human rights organisations confirmed that intelligence agencies withheld Esmaili's body and refused to give his remains to his family for burial rites. [8]

Esmaili had yet to appear before any court, and the potential allegation against him remains undetermined. Moreover, Esmaili’s body had been kept at the morgue for an extensive period of time before informing his family. The latter maintains that their son was tortured and killed by security forces. [9]

According to statistics, more than 20 prisoners died inside Iranian detention centres in the first half of 2023, 65% of which were Kurdish prisoners. [10] The Iranian regime has long utilised force to crack down on its opponents. Many prisoners are often accused of unsubstantiated crimes and endure torture and cruel treatment in its clandestine detention facilities. Unless independent investigations by forensic experts are held in cases of deaths of Kurdish political prisoners inside prisons, justice will continue to be impeded and the number of deaths behind bars will continue to rise.

Sources and further reading:

[1] Medya News, ‘Two Kurdish political prisoners die under torture in Iran, rights groups report’ (10 July 2023) <https://medyanews.net/two-kurdish-political-prisoners-die-under-torture-in-iran-rights-groups-report/> accessed 19 July 2023.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, ‘Kurdish Political Prisoner Peyman Galwani Dies Under Torture by Iranian Security Forces, Hengaw’s comprehensive analysis’ (09 July 2023) <https://hengaw.net/en/news/2023/07/kurdish-political-prisoner-peyman-galavani-dies-under-torture-by-iranian-security-forces-hengaws-comprehensive-analysis> accessed 19 July 2023. 

[4] (Trigger Warning: Images of Torture) Iran International, ‘Photos Prove Iranian Political Prisoner Tortured To Death’ (11 July 2023) <https://www.iranintl.com/en/202307117231> accessed 19 July 2023. 

[5] Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, ‘Kurdish Political Prisoner Peyman Galwani Dies Under Torture by Iranian Security Forces, Hengaw’s comprehensive analysis’ (09 July 2023) <https://hengaw.net/en/news/2023/07/kurdish-political-prisoner-peyman-galavani-dies-under-torture-by-iranian-security-forces-hengaws-comprehensive-analysis> accessed 19 July 2023. 

[6] Ibid.

[7] Medya News, ‘Two Kurdish political prisoners die under torture in Iran, rights groups report’ (10 July 2023) <https://medyanews.net/two-kurdish-political-prisoners-die-under-torture-in-iran-rights-groups-report/> accessed 19 July 2023. 

[8] Ibid.

[9] Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, ‘Hengaw's report on the death of Kurdish political prisoner Mousa Esmaili, who was tortured by Iranian security forces’ (08 July 2023) <https://hengaw.net/en/news/2023/07/hengaws-report-on-the-death-of-kurdish-political-prisoner-mousa-esmaili-who-was-tortured-by-iranian-security-forces> accessed 19 July 2023. 

[10] Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, ‘Hengaw’s report regarding the death of prisoners inside the Iranian prisons during the first six months of 2023’ (04 July 2023) <https://hengaw.net/en/news/2023/07/hengaws-report-regarding-the-death-of-prisoners-inside-the-iranian-prisons-during-the-first-six-months-of-2023> accessed 19 July 2023.